— User Comments —

Marine City was also served by the former Detroit United Railway "Shore Line Division" which connected with this line and served the kris-kraft boat facility into the 1960's. The interurbann itself, of course was abandoned c1929.

Will Keller

Mesa, AZ
9/24/2011

Yes the DUR operated through Marine City, But the DUR did not provide the rail transportation for the Chris Craft Boat Company. The Algonac Transit Authority and the Port Huron & Detroit Railroad provided the transportation, and they only provided it until 1957, as the rails were torn up between the south side of Marine City and the Chris Craft plant on the south side of Algonac that year.

Doug

Marine City, MI
5/21/2012

My fiancee grew up in Algonac and remembers trains running through her grandparents' front yard, on the west side of 29 between Boatbridge Road and Nautical Lane, south of Marine City. Apparently this was Algonac Transit Authority trackage. Did the PH&D operate this line for ATA? She has a photo of the front yard in 1957, clearly showing the rails, and another in 1960, in which the line appears to be recently abandoned. She was one year old in 1957; is it possible the trains ran later? Thanks for any answers anybody can provide!

Bill Christopher

Waukegan, IL
1/11/2015

Sorry, "Boatbridge Road" should be Broadbridge Road.

Bill Christopher

Waukegan, IL
1/11/2015

Bill you are correct that the tracks ran along the west side of M29. In fact, one would think that they ran on the west side of the road, west of the drainage ditch, but that wasn't the case, they were actually located where the present day west side roads shoulder is located, yes the tracks were that close to the roadway.

The trackage from Thompson Drive (sewage treatment plant) southward toward Algonac and into the Chris Craft Plant was owned and operated by the Algonac Transit Authority. The Algonac Transit Authority was actually owned and a subsidiary of the Chris Craft Boat Company. The Port Huron & Detroit Railroad did not operate for the Algonac Transit Authority, nor did the PH&D operate their trains south of Thompson Drive. The PH&D only operated as far as Alger Street, just far enough to clear the south siding switch with their locomotive to run around their cars to head back north. The Algonac Transit Authority brought their rail cars to the PH&D at Marine City and interchanged on the siding which was located between Chartier Road and Alger Street. There was also a wye located here on the west side of the main and siding just south of Lumber Jack.

The Algonac Transit Authority tracks were abandoned and torn up in 1957. I have a news paper article from 1957 showing them pulling up the rails. Your 1960 photo was most likely after the rails and ties were removed. I highly doubt any trains ran south of Thompson Drive after 1957.

The Port Huron & Detroit Railroad tracks in Marine City were torn up in the summer of 1988.

Doug

Marine City, MI
5/11/2016

Curious, I remember the tracks in Marine City in the 70s, into the 1980s. A good childhood friend lived there and I would visit often. But I never recall seeing a train run over that line, yet I do remember seeing trains often in St Clair and south of St Clair (probably into D.E.). How often was the line south of Detroit Edison used up until they tore it out? The tracks into Marine City always looked unused, at least that is what I remember. Boy it has been a long time since I gave this any serious thought.

Brian

St Clair Shores, MI
1/1/2017

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